Wheat production fell sharply in 2002, to just 4.4 million tonnes, 44 percent down from last year’s good harvest, and well below the average of the past five years. The winter and spring wheat crops were generally planted late under drought conditions, and exceptionally dry weather continued through the spring, further stressing young plants. Moreover, the arrival of substantial rainfall later in the season, while too late to improve yields, adversely affected the near-mature crops and hampered harvesting, causing overall crop quality to be reduced. Harvesting of the summer maize crop was completed by the end of October and latest information puts output at a reasonably good level of 8 million tonnes, up 500 000 tonnes from last year. Maize crops benefited from the good summer rainfall.